Washington library hosts conversation with Shakespearean actor

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, July 21, 2017

WASHINGTON >> The Gunn Memorial Library will host a conversation with one of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors of our time, John Douglas Thompson. Just off his performance of Caius Cassius in “Julius Caesar” in New York’s Central Park, and just before his much anticipated portrayal of Hamlet at San Francisco’s ACT, he will sit down with Michael Sexton, the artistic director of The Shakespeare Society, for an extended discussion of these and other roles he has played during his illustrious career, including Macbeth, Othello, and Richard III.

Attendees should pre-register for this special event which will take place on Sunday, July 30 at 2 p.m. in the Wykeham Room of Gunn Memorial Library in Washington. A reception will follow the discussion.

Sexton is a director, dramaturg, and teacher and has been the Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Society in NYC since 2005. Recent directing credits include: Coriolanus at Red Bull Theater; The Winter’s Tale, at The Pearl Theatre Company; As You Like It and Henry V at Two River Theater Company; Kelly Masterson’s Edith, with Jayne Atkinson and Jack Gilpin at the Berkshire Theater Festival; and Titus Andronicus with Jay O. Sanders at the Public Theater. He has directed at Red Bull Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Manhattan Class Company, Classic Stage Company, Soho Rep, PS122, The Old Globe, Portland Center Stage, Playmakers Rep, Rising Phoenix Rep, SPF and the Cherry Lane Alternative. He has taught and/or been a guest artist at Princeton, NYU, Juilliard, Rutgers, UNC and Columbia. For the Shakespeare Society, Michael has programmed and directed events featuring a variety of actors, singers dancers, directors and scholars, including John Douglas Thompson, James Shapiro, Adam Gopnik, F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Frye, Michael Cerveris, Stephen Greenblatt, Jefferson Mays, Brian Cox, Frances McDormand, Martha Plimpton, Robert Pinsky, Marjorie Garber, Trevor Nunn, Denis O’Hare, Estelle Parsons, David Scott Kastan, and Michael Cumpsty.

The Shakespeare Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of William Shakespeare’s works through performance, commentary, and educational activities. Their humanist mission -- artistic, literary, and educational -- is to bring to everyone the joy and transformative power of the works of William Shakespeare. Members receive at least five free events of commentary and performance each season in NYC, and we offer memberships at deep discounts to teachers, students and artists. They also provide extensive education programs to the children of NYC in all five boroughs. For more information visit: www.shakespearesociety.org

This program is free and open to the public but registration is requested. Call 860-868-7586 for further information or visit www.gunnlibrary.org

The Gunn Memorial Library is located at 5 Wykeham Road at Route 47 on the Green, in Washington.